‘Mother, don’t talk about it till you’ve had time to think,’ said Richard, stubbornly.  ’If this is bad news, what the deuce would you call good?  Just because I’ve been born and bred a mechanic, does that say I’ve got no common sense or self-respect?  Are you afraid I shall go and drink myself to death?  You talk like the people who make it their business to sneer at us—­the improvidence of the working classes, and such d—­d slander.  It’s good news for me, and it’ll be good news for many another man.  Wait and see.’

The mother became silent, keeping her lips tight, and struggling to regain her calmness.  She was not convinced, but in argument with her eldest son she always gave way, affection and the pride she had in him aiding her instincts of discretion.  In practice she still maintained something of maternal authority, often gaining her point by merely seeming offended.  To the two who had not yet reached the year of emancipation she allowed, in essentials, no appeal from her decision.  Between her and Richard there had been many a sharp conflict in former days, invariably ending with the lad’s submission; the respect which his mother exacted he in truth felt to be her due, and it was now long since they had openly been at issue on any point.  Mrs. Mutimer’s views were distinctly Conservative, and hitherto she had never taken Richard’s Radicalism seriously; on the whole she had regarded it as a fairly harmless recreation for his leisure hours—­decidedly preferable to a haunting of public-houses and music-halls.  The loss of his employment caused her a good deal of uneasiness, but she had not ventured to do more than throw out hints of her disapproval; and now, as it seemed, the matter was of no moment.  Henceforth she had far other apprehensions, but this first conflict of their views made her reticent.

‘Just let me tell you how things stand,’ Richard pursued, when his excitement had somewhat subsided; and he went on to explain the relations between old Mr. Mutimer and the Eldons, which in outline had been described to him by Mr. Yottle.  And then—­

’The will he had made left all the property to this young Eldon, who was to be trustee for a little money to be doled out to me yearly, just to save me from ruining myself, of course.’  Richard’s lips curled in scorn.  ’I don’t know whether the lawyer thought we ought to offer to give everything up; he seemed precious anxious to make me understand that the old man had never intended us to have it, and that he did want these other people to have it.  Of course, we’ve nothing to do with that.  Luck’s luck, and I think I know who’ll make best use of it.’

‘Why didn’t you tell all this when Alice was here?’ inquired his mother, seeming herself again, though very grave.

’I’ll tell you.  I thought it over, and it seems to me it’ll be better if Alice and ’Arry wait a while before they know what’ll come to them.  They can’t take anything till they’re twenty-one.  Alice is a good girl, but—­’